The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-16
Christian Neighbor.
COLUMBIA, 8. G..
Varieties.


Many religions abound, among them
the Christian. In Christian nations
are found many sects, and among the
individuals composing these sects are
those who have many differing ideals
of q model Christian.
To the man whose ancestors have
been honest, hard working, debt-pay-
ing men religion will consist chiefly
in stern integrity, continuous labor,
aud the ability t, say, II owe no man
n dollar" In order to do this last it
may be a poor man has been driven
TO need or q laboring man forced to
work at starvation wages-what mat
ters it? The religion of Mr.. n re-
uuires that his financial integrity be
maintained at all costs. No discount
shall be placed upon man who would
pay hundred cents on the dollar
such are too rare-but let these beware
of the means by which they obtain
this end. B, who Is of indolent habit
and "easy going" ways, has a religion
that makes himself and everybody
about him comfortable, and pleased
with the world. 1t maybe he Is care
less about what he owes-he is
equally careless about collecting
what ia due himself. What's
the use of "dogging" man t"
death about few dollars? If he is
willing to cheat Inc ont of 1t why
rather he than me-" and so he grants
to others the indulgence he claims for
himself. This is BIS religion-any
other sort is "Greek" to him. G is all
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. conversation
examination Of his faith-inward
auestionings and self-examinations"
For the crude world" and poor hu"
manity in the concrete, he has no
sympathy-all his religion, like some
some delicate exotic, breathes the in-
ner air. He is gentle, sympathetic,
delicate, nervous--his religion resem-
bles his constitution.
D is a contrary type. He knows
no more of halr-splitting questions as
to whether he has a little more or a
little less faith than he had yesterday.
Out of his warm, generous, impulsive
heart he gives hand and purse to some
needy wretch-to him this is the full
filling of the law-this is his religion.
Is not this picture of the Christian
world?-every man after his own
kind, each claiming that his is the
best type of religion; each one de-
manding immunity from those duties
he considers less important; each one
condemning in his neighbor the faults
he himself is not even tempted to cum-
init.
Without discussing the propriety of
theatre going for church members, we
would ask, Who are usually the
warmest opposers of it? Is it not al
most invariably by those who have no
knowledge of or admiration for the
historic art? IL it not commonly the
people who would be quite rs well
pleased with the English Of "fast-
ion paper drama" as with the bright
est gems of Shakespeare?
Suppose We consider the "vice" that
now engages the attention of some re-
ligious assemblies, the using of tobac-
CO (some add the planting of the weed
to the catalogue.) Those who use it,
are not open to conviction even as to
the filthiness of the habit, a thing so
patent to all others. AS to the ex-
pense to pocket and health they SIM
ply deny 1t or turn deaf ear when a
word Is spoken ON the subject. The
ones that speak against it are most
commonly those whose palates are to"
delicate for the stuff rather than those
that have religious convictions OIL the
subject.
One might run through q whole
catalogue of evils only to find the
same inconsistencies. Isthis not trueP